Clasp.



PATENTED JAN. '7, 1908. W- G. FINNEY.

CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1908l WILLIAM C. FINNEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

Application tiled June 2l. 1906. Serial No. 322,720.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, "WiLLIAM O. FINNEY, a citizen of the United States, vresiding at l/Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Olasps, of which the following is a specification This invention relates generally to clasps and more particularly to a clasp intended to be used in connection with a garter' or hose supporter, the object of the invention being to provide a clasp which will be 'flat in appearance, one which will not tear the stocking, and one which will be simple and efficient in operation and inexpensive in construction.

Vith these various objects in view the invention consists essentially in making a clasp preferably from a single piece ofy spring metal and comprising a base member and a gripping member, the gripping memberA 'having an inwardly proiecting longitudinal tongue, the base member having an opening adapted to receive said tongue when the members are brought together and a lever connected to the base member and adapted to bear upon the tongue of the gripping member for the purpose of bringing the free ends of the said members together.

The invention consists also in constructing the various parts in such a manner that the lever can be quickly and easily attached and detached as desired.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specitication:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of aclasp constructed in accordance with my invention, said clasp being closed. Fig. 2 is a pers ctive view of the clasp open, the elastic eing detached from 'the clasp. Fig.

y 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the clasp closed. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view o'n the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view showing the various elements of the clasp, the base and gripping members being separated from each other. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the clasp is made. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing a slight modification in the base. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation of said modified part.

In constructing a clasp in accordance with my invention. I employ a single piece of spring metal which is cut in the shape of the blank shown in Fig. 6, and which is then bent centrally upon itself providing the base member A, and the gripping member' B. The base member A is formed with a lip A at its lower end and side flanges A2, said side v[langes being provided with ears A3 which have curved or inclined slots A4 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

A transverse slotA5 is produced in the base member adjacent the lower end for the purpose of attaching the webbing orelastic to the clasp as most clearly shown in Fig. 3 and between the slotted ears, the base plate is formed with an opening A, and in Figs. l to 6, this opening is complete and. by that it is meant that the metal is completely removed whereas in Figs. 7 and S the metal is simply depressed thereby providing an opening or recess A7.

The gripping member B is of such size and shape as to rest within the vflanges and ears of the base member and this gripping member has an integral longitudinal tongue B punched therefrom, said tongue projecting inwardly toward the base member and when the members are brought together as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the central portion of the longitudinal tongue will be received in the o ening A or A7 in the base plate as'most c early shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

For the purpose of bringing the members together I em loy a bent or curved lever C having lateralliy projecting pivots C', a head C2 and a handle portion C3. The ivot C fits into the slots of the ears and wor rs freely therein and by having the ears slotted as described, tlie lever can be quickly and easily inserted or removed as desired. The head of the lever is adapted to bear upon the outer face of the longitudinal tongue and when the lever is thrown back as shown in Figs. l and 3, the head. of the lever bearing upon this tongue, will force the free ends of the base and Dripping members together.

IIien the lever is thrown forward o1' downwardly as shown in Fig. 2, the inherent elasticity of the metal will immediately cause the gripping members to spring downwardly thereby opening the clasp.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have also shown a slio'ht modification in which the slotted ears are also sertion and removal of the lever as'the ends of the pivots will work freely through said crimped or grooved portions into and out of the slots whenever it is desired to insert or remove the said lever.

A ring D is connected to the clasp at the central bend between the base and gripping members as most clearly shown, and the elastic E, after being fastened to the lower end of the base member is passed upwardly along the rear face of the clasp and through the ring D. Y

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly neat and vcompact form of clasp, one which can be produced at a low cost inasmuch as it consists of an exceedingly small number of parts and it will also be noted that owing to the peculiar construc tion and arrangement of said parts an eX- ceedingly rm grip is had upon the article to be clasped.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A clasp formed from 'a single piece of spring metal comprising a base member and a gripping member, an ear at each side providedwith an inclined slot, each ear being crimped to form a groove leading to the slot, the gripping member having an integral longitudinal tongue punched therefrom and bent inwardly toward the base member, and a detachable lever having pivots working in the inclined slots in the ears and a head bearing upon the longitudinal tongue of the gripping member for the purpose of bringing the free ends of the base and gripping members together.

2. A clasp comprising a base member having ears upon its opposite sides, said ears being each provided with an inclined slot, and said base member being centrally `punched out between the ears, a gripping member connected to the base member and having a tongue punched therefrom, each end of the tongue being integral with the gripping member, and a lever having pivots itting loosely in the slots of the ears, the head of the lever bearing upon the said tongue and forcing the same into the opening formed in the base. v

WM. C. FINNEY.

/Vitnesses:

J. W. MARBURY, C. F. DieKENs. 

